Al Asad Air Base, Iraq -- We are currently mobilized U.S.
Army reservists with the 804th Medical Brigade out of
the former Fort Devens in Ayer. We deployed to Iraq in February and
will remain here until later this fall.

In his first address to the legal community since his
confirmation as the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court
last year, Roderick L. Ireland spoke of his hopes for the judicial
branch -- including adequate funding -- and reaffirmed his
commitment to the priorities he established in December.

It only took eight years. But once it got traction, nothing
could stop it.

The Alimony Reform Act of 2011 was signed into law by Gov. Deval
Patrick on Sept. 26 after winning unanimous approval from both
houses of the Legislature. Family court judges are no longer
constricted by legislation derived from 1785 English law, and now
have many options to use when issuing an alimony decree.